Nora roberts 1986 risky business

Risky Business Nora Roberts Cozumel had been home to Liz Palmer for ten years She was settled, respected Her Black Coral Dive Shop was the best on the island She no longer missed Houston, or thought about the man who didn't want her or their child And for two short weeks, Cozumel was home to Jerry Sharpe, the diving instructor she'd hired Until they found him—murdered Suddenly Jonas Sharpe, Jerry's twin brother, stormed into her well ordered life with grief in his eyes and revenge in his heart He plunged them both into the desperate world of drug smugglers—and into the dangerous depths of passion For Michael and Darlene, good friends Contents Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 “Watch your step, please Please, watch your step Thank you.” Liz took a ticket from a sunburned man with palm trees on his shirt, then waited patiently for a woman with two bulging straw baskets to dig out another one “I hope you haven’t lost it, Mabel I told you to let me hold it.” “I haven’t lost it,” the woman said testily before she pulled out the little piece of blue cardboard “Thank you Please take your seats.” It was several more minutes before everyone was settled and she could take her own “Welcome aboard the Fantasy, ladies and gentlemen.” With her mind on a half dozen other things, Liz began her opening monologue She gave an absentminded nod to the man on the dock who cast off the ropes before she started the engine Her voice was pleasant and easy as she took another look at her watch They were already fifteen minutes behind schedule She gave one last scan of the beach, skimming by lounge chairs, over bodies already stretched and oiled slick, like offerings to the sun She couldn’t hold the tour any longer The boat swayed a bit as she backed it from the dock and took an eastern course Though her thoughts were scattered, she made the turn from the coast expertly She could have navigated the boat with her eyes closed The air that ruffled around her face was soft and already warming, though the hour was early Harmless and powder-puff white, clouds dotted the horizon The water, churned by the engine, was as blue as the guidebooks promised Even after ten years, Liz took none of it for granted—especially her livelihood Part of that depended on an atmosphere that made muscles relax and problems disappear Behind her in the long, bullet-shaped craft were eighteen people seated on padded benches They were already murmuring about the fish and formations they saw through the glass bottom She doubted if any of them thought of the worries they’d left behind at home “We’ll be passing Paraiso Reef North,” Liz began in a low, flowing voice “Diving depths range from thirty to fifty feet Visibility is excellent, so you’ll be able to see star and brain corals, sea fans and sponges, as well as schools of sergeant majors, groupers and parrot fish The grouper isn’t one of your prettier fish, but it’s versatile They’re all born female and produce eggs before they change sex and become functioning males.” Liz set her course and kept the speed steady She went on to describe the elegantly colored angelfish, the shy, silvery small-mouth grunts, and the intriguing and dangerous sea urchin Her clients would find the information useful when she stopped for two hours of snorkeling at Palancar Reef She’d made the run before, too many times to count It might have become routine, but it was never monotonous She felt now, as she always did, the freedom of open water, blue sky and the hum of engine with her at the controls The boat was hers, as were three others, and the little concrete block dive shop close to shore She’d worked for all of it, sweating through months when the bills were steep and the cash flow slight She’d made it Ten years of struggle had been a small price to pay for having something of her own Turning her back on her country, leaving behind the familiar, had been a small price to pay for peace of mind The tiny, rustic island of Cozumel in the Mexican Caribbean promoted peace of mind It was her home now, the only one that mattered She was accepted there, respected No one on the island knew of the humiliation and pain she’d gone through before she’d fled to Mexico Liz rarely thought of it, though she had a vivid reminder Faith Just the thought of her daughter made her smile Faith was small and bright and precious, and so far away Just six weeks, Liz thought, and she’d be home from school for the summer Sending her to Houston to her grandparents had been for the best, Liz reminded herself whenever the ache of loneliness became acute Faith’s education was more important than a mother’s needs Liz had worked, gambled, struggled so that Faith could have everything she was entitled to, everything she would have had if her father… Determined, Liz set her mind on other things She’d promised herself a decade before that she would cut Faith’s father from her mind, just as he had cut her from his life It had been a mistake, one made in naïveté and passion, one that had changed the course of her life forever But she’d won something precious from it: Faith “Below, you see the wreck of a forty-passenger Convair airliner lying upside down.” She slowed the boat so that her passengers could examine the wreck and the divers out for early explorations Bubbles rose from air tanks like small silver disks “The wreck’s no tragedy,” she continued “It was sunk for a scene in a movie and provides divers with easy entertainment.” Her job was to the same for her passengers, she reminded herself It was simple enough when she had a mate on board Alone, she had to captain the boat, keep up the light, informative banter, deal with snorkel equipment, serve lunch and count heads It just hadn’t been possible to wait any longer for Jerry She muttered to herself a bit as she increased speed It wasn’t so much that she minded the extra work, but she felt her paying customers were entitled to the best she could offer She should have known better than to depend on him She could have easily arranged for someone else to come along As it was, she had two men on the dive boat and two more in the shop Because her second dive boat was due to launch at noon, no one could be spared to mate the glass bottom on a day trip And Jerry had come through before, she reminded herself With him on board, the women passengers were so charmed that Liz didn’t think they even noticed the watery world the boat passed over Who could blame them? she thought with a half smile If she hadn’t been immune to men in general, Jerry might have had her falling over her own feet Most women had a difficult time resisting dark, cocky looks, a cleft chin and smoky gray eyes Add to that a lean, muscular build and a glib tongue, and no female was safe But that hadn’t been why Liz had agreed to rent him a room, or give him a part-time job She’d needed the extra income, as well as the extra help, and she was shrewd enough to recognize an operator when she saw one Previous experience had taught her that it made good business sense to have an operator on your side She told herself he’d better have a good excuse for leaving her without a crew, then forgot him The ride, the sun, the breeze relaxed her Liz continued to speak of the sea life below, twining facts she’d learned while studying marine biology in college with facts she’d learned firsthand in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean Occasionally one of her passengers would ask a question or call out in excitement over something that skimmed beneath them She answered, commented and instructed while keeping the flow light Because three of her passengers were Mexican, she repeated all her information in Spanish Because there were several children on board, she made certain the facts were fun If things had been different, she would have been a teacher Liz had long since pushed that early dream from her mind, telling herself she was more suited to the business world Her business world She glanced over where the clouds floated lazily over the horizon The sun danced white and sharp on the surface of blue water Below, coral rose like castles or waved like fans Yes, she’d chosen her world and had no regrets When a woman screamed behind her, Liz let off the throttle Before she could turn, the scream was joined by another Her first thought was that perhaps they’d seen one of the sharks that occasionally visited the reefs Set to calm and soothe, Liz let the boat drift in the current A woman was weeping in her husband’s arms, another held her child’s face protectively against her shoulder The rest were staring down through the clear glass Liz took off her sunglasses as she walked down the two steps into the cabin “Please try to stay calm I promise you, there’s nothing down there that can hurt you in here.” A man with a Nikon around his neck and an orange sun visor over a balding dome gave her a steady look “Miss, you’d better radio the police.” Liz looked down through the clear glass, through the crystal blue water Her heart rose to her throat She saw now why Jerry had stood her up He was lying on the white sandy bottom with an anchor chain wrapped around his chest The moment the plane finished its taxi, Jonas gathered his garment bag and waited impatiently for the door to be opened When it did, there was a whoosh of hot air and the drone of engines With a quick nod to the flight attendant he strode down the steep metal stairs He didn’t have the time or the inclination to appreciate the palm trees, the bursts of flowers or the dreamy blue sky He walked purposefully, eyes straight ahead and narrowed against the sun In his dark suit and trim tie he could have been a businessman, one who’d come to Cozumel to work, not to play Whatever grief, whatever anger he felt were carefully masked by a calm, unapproachable expression The terminal was small and noisy Americans on vacation stood in groups laughing or wandered in confusion Though he knew no Spanish, Jonas passed quickly through customs then into a small, hot alcove where men waited at podiums to rent cars and Jeeps Fifteen minutes after landing, Jonas was backing a compact out of a parking space and heading toward town with a map stuck in the sun visor The heat baked right through the windshield Twenty-four hours before, Jonas had been sitting in his large, elegantly furnished, airconditioned office He’d just won a long, tough case that had taken all his skill and mountains of research His client was a free man, acquitted of a felony charge that carried a minimum sentence of ten years He’d accepted his fee, accepted the gratitude and avoided as much publicity as possible Jonas had been preparing to take his first vacation in eighteen months He’d felt satisfied, vaguely tired and optimistic Two weeks in Paris seemed like the perfect reward for so many months of ten-hour days Paris, with its ageless sophistication and cool parks, its stunning museums and incomparable food was precisely what suited Jonas Sharpe When the call had come through from Mexico, it had taken him several moments to understand When he’d answered that he did indeed have a brother Jeremiah, Jonas’s predominant thought had been that Jerry had gotten himself into trouble again, and he was going to have to bail him out By the time he’d up the phone, Jonas couldn’t think at all Numb, he’d given his secretary instructions to cancel his Paris arrangements and to make new ones for a flight to Cozumel the next day Then Jonas had picked up the phone to call his parents and tell them their son was dead He’d come to Mexico to identify the body and take his brother home to bury With a fresh wave of grief, Jonas experienced a sense of inevitability Jerry had always lived on the edge of disaster This time he’d stepped over Since childhood Jerry had courted trouble—charmingly He’d once joked that Jonas had taken to law so he could find the most efficient way to get his brother out of jams Perhaps in a sense it had been true Jerry had been a dreamer Jonas was a realist Jerry had been unapologetically lazy, Jonas a workaholic They were—had been—two sides of a coin As Jonas drew up to the police station in San Miguel it was with the knowledge that part of himself had been erased The scene at port should have been painted There were small fishing boats pulled up on the grass Huge gray ships sat complacently at dock while tourists in flowered shirts or skimpy shorts strolled along the sea wall Water lapped and scented the air Jonas got out of the car and walked to the police station to begin to wade through the morass of paperwork that accompanied a violent death Captain Moralas was a brisk, no-nonsense man who had been born on the island and was passionately dedicated to protecting it He was approaching forty and awaiting the birth of his fifth child He was proud of his position, his education and his family, though the order often varied Basically, he was a quiet man who enjoyed classical music and a movie on Saturday nights Because San Miguel was a port, and ships brought sailors on leave, tourists on holiday, Moralas was no stranger to trouble or the darker side of human nature He did, however, pride himself on the low percentage of violent crime on his island The murder of the American bothered him in the way a pesky fly bothered a man sitting contentedly on his porch swing A cop didn’t have to work in a big city to recognize a professional hit There was no room for organized crime on Cozumel But he was also a family man He understood love, and he understood grief, just as he understood certain men were compelled to conceal both In the cool, flat air of the morgue, he waited beside Jonas The American stood a head taller, rigid and pale “This is your brother, Mr Sharpe?” Though he didn’t have to ask Jonas looked down at the other side of the coin “Yes.” In silence, he backed away to give Jonas the time he needed It didn’t seem possible Jonas knew he could have stood for hours staring down at his brother’s face and it would never seem possible Jerry had always looked for the easy way, the biggest deal, and he hadn’t always been an admirable man But he’d always been so full of life Slowly, Jonas laid his hand on his brother’s There was no life there now, and nothing he could do; no amount of maneuvering or pulling of strings would bring it back Just as slowly he removed his hand It didn’t seem possible, but it was Moralas nodded to the attendant “I’m sorry.” Jonas shook his head Pain was like a dull-edged knife through the base of his skull He coated it with ice “Who killed my brother, Captain?” “I don’t know We’re investigating.” “You have leads?” Moralas gestured and started down the corridor “Your brother had been in Cozumel only three weeks, Mr Sharpe At the moment, we are interviewing everyone who had contact with him during that time.” He opened a door and stepped out into the air, breathing deeply of the fresh air and the flowers The man beside him didn’t seem to notice the change “I promise you, we will everything possible to find your brother’s killer.” The rage Jonas had controlled for so many hours bubbled toward the surface “I don’t know you.” With a steady hand he drew out a cigarette, watching the captain with narrowed eyes as he lit it “You didn’t know Jerry.” “This is my island.” Moralas’s gaze remained locked with Jonas’s “If there’s a murderer on it, I’ll find him.” “A professional.” Jonas blew out smoke that in the air with no breeze to brush it away “We both know that, don’t we?” Moralas said nothing for a moment He was still waiting to receive information on Jeremiah Sharpe “Your brother was shot, Mr Sharpe, so we’re investigating to find out why, how and who You could help me by giving me some information.” Jonas stared at the door a moment—the door that led down the stairs, down the corridor and to his brother’s body “I’ve got to walk,” he murmured Moralas waited until they’d crossed the grass, then the road For a moment, they walked near the sea wall in silence “Why did your brother come to Cozumel?” “I don’t know.” Jonas drew deeply on the cigarette until it burned into the filter “Jerry liked palm trees.” “His business? His work?” With a half laugh Jonas ground the smoldering filter underfoot Sunlight danced in diamonds on the water “Jerry liked to call himself a free-lancer He was a drifter.” And he’d brought complications to Jonas’s life as often as he’d brought pleasure Jonas stared hard at the water, remembering shared lives, diverse opinions “For Jerry, it was always the next town and the next deal The last I heard—two weeks ago—he was giving diving lessons to tourists.” “The Black Coral Dive Shop,” Moralas confirmed “Elizabeth Palmer hired him on a part-time basis.” “Palmer.” Jonas’s attention shifted away from the water “That’s the woman he was living with.” “Miss Palmer rented your brother a room,” Moralas corrected, abruptly proper “She was also among the group to discover your brother’s body She’s given my department her complete cooperation.” Jonas’s mouth thinned How had Jerry described this Liz Palmer in their brief phone conversation weeks before? A sexy little number who made great tortillas She sounded like another one of Jerry’s tough ladies on the lookout for a good time and the main chance “I’ll need her address.” At the captain’s quiet look he only raised a brow “I assume my brother’s things are still there.” “They are I have some of your brother’s personal effects, those that he had on him, in my office You’re welcome to collect them and what remains at Miss Palmer’s We’ve already been through them.” Jonas felt the rage build again and smothered it “When can I take my brother home?” “I’ll my best to complete the paperwork today I’ll need you to make a statement Of course, there are forms.” He looked at Jonas’s set profile and felt a new tug of pity “Again, I’m sorry.” He only nodded “Let’s get it done.” Liz let herself into the house While the door slammed behind her, she flicked switches, sending two ceiling fans whirling The sound, for the moment, was company enough The headache she’d lived with for over twenty-four hours was a dull, nagging thud just under her right temple Going into the bathroom, she washed down two aspirin before turning on the shower She’d taken the glass bottom out again Though it was off season, she’d had to turn a dozen people away It wasn’t every day a body was found off the coast, and the curious had come in force Morbid, she thought, then stripped and stepped under the cold spray of the shower How long would “There’s a few thousand in cocaine down there, that’s all A few thousand dollars in the case coming up The boss figures it’s worth the investment to make it look like you were doing the dealing with Sharpe Then you two have an argument and shoot each other Case closed.” “You killed Erika too, didn’t you?” “She asked too many questions.” He lowered the gun “You ask too many questions.” Light flooded the boat and the water so quickly that Liz’s first instinct was to freeze Before the next reaction had fully registered, she was tumbling into the water and diving blind How could she warn Jonas? Liz groped frantically in the water as lights played on the surface above her She had no tanks, no mask, no protection Any moment he’d be surfacing, unaware of any danger He had no protection but her Without equipment, she’d be helpless in a matter of moments She fought to stay down, keeping as close to the ladder as she dared Her lungs were ready to burst when she felt the movement in the water Liz turned toward the beam of light When he saw her, his heart nearly stopped She looked like a ghost clinging to the hull of the boat Her hair was pale and floating out in the current, her face was nearly as white as his light Before his mind could begin to question, he was pushing his mouthpiece between her lips and giving her air There could be no communication but emotion He felt the fear Jonas steadied the spear gun in his arm and surfaced “Mr Sharpe.” Moralas caught him in the beam of a spotlight Liz rose up beside him “We have everything under control.” On the deck of her boat, Liz saw Manchez handcuffed and flanked by two divers “Perhaps you will give my men and their prisoner a ride back to Cozumel.” She felt Jonas tense The spear gun was set and aimed Even through the mask, she could see his eyes burning, burning as only ice can “Jonas, please.” But he was already starting up the ladder She hauled herself over the rail and tumbled onto the deck, cold and dripping “Jonas, you can’t Jonas, it’s over.” He barely heard her All his emotion, all his concentration was on the man who stood only feet away Their eyes were locked It gave him no satisfaction to watch the blood drain from Manchez’s face, or the knowledge leap frantically into his eyes It was what he’d come for, what he’d promised himself The medallion on the edge of his chain dangled and reminded him of his brother His brother was dead No satisfaction Jonas lowered the gun Manchez tossed back his head “I’ll get out,” he said quietly The smile started to spread “I’ll get out.” The spear shot out and plowed into the deck between Manchez’s feet Liz saw the smile freeze on his face an instant before one formed on Jonas’s “I’ll be waiting.” Could it really be over? It was all Liz could think when she awoke, warm and dry, in her own bed She was safe, Jonas was safe, and the smuggling ring on Cozumel was broken Of course, Jonas had been furious Manchez had been watched, they had been watched, but the police had made their presence known only after Liz had been held at gunpoint But he’d gotten what he’d come for, she thought His brother’s killer was behind bars He’d face a trial and justice She hoped it was enough for Jonas The morning was enough for her The normality of it Happy, she rolled over and pressed her body against Jonas’s He only drew her closer “Let’s stay right here until noon.” She laughed and nuzzled against his throat “I have—” “A business to run,” he finished “Exactly And for the first time in weeks I can run it without having this urge to look over my shoulder I’m happy.” She looked at him, then tossed her arms around his neck and squeezed “I’m so happy.” “Happy enough to marry me?” She went still as a stone, then slowly, very slowly drew away “What?” “Marry me Come home with me Start a life with me.” She wanted to say yes It shocked her that her heart burned to say yes Pulling away from him was the hardest thing she’d ever done “I can’t.” He stopped her before she could scramble out of bed It hurt, he realized, more than he could possibly have anticipated “Why?” “Jonas, we’re two different people with two totally separate lives.” “We stopped having separate lives weeks ago.” He took her hands “They’re not ever going to be separate again.” “But they will.” She drew her hands away “After you’re back in Philadelphia for a few weeks, you’ll barely remember what I look like.” He had her wrists handcuffed in his hands The fury that surfaced so seldom in him seemed always on simmer when he was around her “Why you that?” he demanded “Why can’t you ever take what you’re given?” He swung her around until she was beneath him on the bed “I love you.” “Don’t.” She closed her eyes as the wish nearly eclipsed the reason “Don’t say that to me.” Shut out She was shutting him out Jonas felt the panic come first, then the anger Then the determination “I will say it If I say it enough, sooner or later you’ll start to believe it Do you think all these nights have been a game? Haven’t you felt it? Don’t you feel anything?” “I thought I felt something once before.” “You were a child.” When she started to shake her head, he gripped her tighter “Yes, you were In some ways you still are, but I know what goes through you when you’re with me I know I’m not a ghost, I’m not a memory I’m real and I want you.” “I’m afraid of you,” she whispered “I’m afraid because you make me want what I can’t have I won’t marry you, Jonas, because I’m through taking chances with my life and I won’t take chances with my child’s life Please let me go.” He released her, but when she stood, his arms went around her “It isn’t over for us.” She dropped her head against his chest, pressed her cheek close “Let me have the few days we have left Please let me have them.” He lifted her chin Everything he needed to know was in her eyes A man who knew and who planned to win could afford to wait “You haven’t dealt with anyone as stubborn as you are before this And you haven’t nearly finished dealing with me.” Then his hand gentled as he stroked her hair “Get dressed I’ll take you to work.” Because he acted as though nothing had been said, Liz relaxed It was impossible, and she knew it They’d known each other only weeks, and under circumstances that were bound to intensify any feelings He cared She believed that he cared, but love—the kind of love needed to build a marriage —was too much to risk She loved She loved so much that she pushed him away when she wanted to pull him closer He needed to go back to his life, back to his world After time had passed, if he thought of her he’d think with gratitude that she had closed a door he’d opened on impulse She would think of him Always By the time Liz was walking toward the shop, she’d settled her mind “What are you going to today?” “Me?” Jonas, too, had settled his mind “I’m going to sit in the sun and nothing.” “Nothing?” Incredulous, Liz stared at him “All day?” “It’s known as relaxing, or taking a day off If you it several days running, it’s called a vacation I was supposed to have one in Paris.” Paris, she thought It would suit him She wondered briefly how the air smelled in Paris “If you get bored, I’m sure one of the boats could use the extra crew.” “I’ve had enough diving for a few days, thanks.” Jonas plopped down on a chaise in front of the shop It was the best place to keep an eye on her “Miguel.” Liz automatically looked around for Luis “You’re here early.” “I came with Luis He’s checking out the dive boat—got an early tour.” “Yes, I know.” But she wouldn’t trust Miguel to run the shop alone for long “Why don’t you help him? I’ll take care of the counter.” “Bueno Oh, there were a couple of guys looking at the fishing boat Maybe they want to rent.” “I’ll take a look You go ahead.” Walking back, she crouched beside Jonas “Keep an eye on the shop for me, will you? I’ve got a couple of customers over by the Expatriate.” Jonas adjusted his sunglasses “What you pay per hour?” Liz narrowed her eyes “I might cook dinner tonight.” With a smile, he got up to go behind the counter “Take all the time you need.” He made her laugh Liz strolled down the walkway and to the pier, drinking up the morning She could use a good fishing cruise The aqua bikes had been ordered, but they still had to be paid for Besides, she’d like the ride herself It made her think of Jonas and his unwanted catch a few weeks before Liz laughed again as she approached the men beside her boat “Buenos días,” she began “Mr Ambuckle.” Beaming a smile, Liz held out a hand “I didn’t know you were back Is this one of your quick weekend trips?” “That’s right.” His almost bald head gleamed in the sun as he patted her hand “When the mood strikes me I just gotta move.” “Thinking about some big-game fishing this time around?” “Funny you should mention it I was just saying to my associate here that I only go for the big game.” “Only the big game.” Scott Trydent turned around and pushed back his straw hat “That’s right, Clancy.” “Now don’t turn around, honey.” Ambuckle’s fingers clamped over hers before she could move “You’re going to get on the boat, nice and quiet We have some talking to do, then we might just take a little ride.” “How long have you been using my dive shop to smuggle?” Liz saw the gun under Scott’s jacket She couldn’t signal to Jonas, didn’t dare “For the past couple of years I’ve found your shop’s location unbeatable You know, they ship that stuff up from Colombia and dump in Miami The way the heat’s been on the past few years, you take a big chance using the regular routes It takes longer this way, but I lose less merchandise.” “And you’re the organizer,” she murmured “You’re the man the police want.” “I’m a businessman,” he said with a smile “Let’s get on board, little lady.” “The police are watching,” Liz told him as she climbed on deck “The police have Manchez If he hadn’t tried to pull a double cross, the last shipment would have gone down smooth.” “A double cross?” “That’s right,” Scott put in as he flanked her “Pablo decided he could make more free-lancing than by being a company man.” “And by reporting on his fellow employee, Mr Trydent moves up in rank I work my organization on the incentive program.” Scott grinned at Ambuckle “Can’t beat the system.” “You had Jerry Sharpe killed.” Struggling to believe what was happening, Liz stared at the round little man who’d chatted with her and rented her tanks “You had him shot.” “He stole a great deal of money from me.” Ambuckle’s face puckered as he thought of it “A great deal I had Manchez dispose of him The truth is, I’d considered you as a liaison for some time It seemed simpler, however, just to use your shop My wife’s very fond of you.” “Your wife.” Liz thought of the neat, matronly woman in skirted bathing suits “She knows you smuggle drugs, and she knows you kill people?” “She thinks we have a great stockbroker.” Ambuckle grinned “I’ve been moving snow for ten years, and my wife wouldn’t know coke from powdered sugar I like to keep business and family separate The little woman’s going to be sick when she finds out you had an accident Now we’re going to take a little ride And we’re going to talk about the three hundred thousand our friend Jerry slipped out from under my nose Cast off, Scott.” “No!” Thinking only of survival, Liz made a lunge toward the dock Ambuckle had her on the deck with one shove He shook his head, dusted his hands and turned to her “I’d wanted to keep this from getting messy You know, I switched gauges on your tanks, figuring you’d back off Always had a soft spot for you, little lady But business is business.” With a wheezy sigh, he turned to Scott “Since you’ve taken over Pablo’s position, I assume you know how to deal with this.” “I certainly do.” He took out a revolver His eyes locked on Liz’s When she caught her breath, he turned the barrel toward Ambuckle “You’re under arrest.” With his other hand, he pulled out a badge “You have the right to remain silent…” It was the last thing Liz heard before she buried her face in her hands and wept 12 “I want to know what the hell’s been going on.” They were in Moralas’s office, but Jonas wouldn’t sit He stood behind Liz’s chair, his fingers curled tight over the back rung If anyone had approached her, he would have struck first and asked questions later He’d already flattened the unfortunate detective who’d tried to hold him back when he’d seen Liz on the deck of the Expatriate with Scott With his hands folded on his desk, Moralas gave Jonas a long, quiet look “Perhaps the explanation should come from your countryman.” “Special Agent Donald Scott.” The man Liz had known as Scott Trydent sat on the corner of Moralas’s desk “Sorry for the deception, Liz.” Though his voice was calm and matter-of-fact, it couldn’t mask the excitement that bubbled from him As he sipped his coffee, he glanced up at Jonas Explanations wouldn’t go over easily with this one, he thought But he’d always believed the ends justified the means “I’ve been after that son of a bitch for three years.” He drank again, savoring triumph “It took us two before we could infiltrate the ring, and even then I couldn’t make contact with the head man To get to him I had to go through more channels than you with the Company He’s been careful For the past eight months I’ve been working with Manchez as Scott Trydent He was the closest I could get to Ambuckle until two days ago.” “You used her.” Jonas’s hand went to Liz’s shoulder “You put her right in the middle.” “Yeah The problem was, for a long time we weren’t sure just how involved she was We knew about your shop, Liz We knew you were an experienced diver In fact, there isn’t anything about you my organization didn’t know For some time, you were our number-one suspect.” “Suspect?” She had her hands folded neatly in her lap, but the anger was boiling “You suspected me.” “You left the U.S over ten years ago You’ve never been back You have both the contacts and the means to have run the ring You keep your daughter off the island for most of the year and in one of the best schools in Houston.” “That’s my business.” “Details like that become our business When you took Jerry Sharpe in and gave him a job, we leaned even further toward you He thought differently, but then we weren’t using him for his opinions.” She felt Jonas’s fingers tighten and reached up to them as she spoke “Using him?” “I contacted Jerry Sharpe in New Orleans He was someone else we knew everything about He was a con, an operator, but he had style.” He took another swig of coffee as he studied Jonas “We made him a deal If he could get on the inside, feed us information, we’d forget about a few… indiscretions I liked your brother,” Scott said to Jonas “Really liked him If he’d been able to settle a bit, he’d have made a hell of a cop ‘Conning the bad guys,’ he called it.” “Are you saying Jerry was working for you?” Jonas felt his emotions race toward the surface The portrait he’d barely been able to force himself to accept was changing “That’s right.” Scott took out a cigarette and watched the match flare as he struck it “I liked him —I mean that He had a way of looking at things that made you forget they were so lousy.” That was Jerry, Jonas thought To give himself a moment, he walked to the window He could see the water lapping calmly against the hulls of boats He could see the sun dancing down on it and children walking along the sea wall The scene had been almost the same the day he’d arrived on Cozumel Some things remained the same; others altered constantly “What happened?” “He had a hard time following orders He wanted to push them too fast too far He told me once he had something to prove, to himself and to the other part of him The better part of him.” Jonas turned slowly The pain came again, an ache Liz saw it in his eyes and went to stand with him “Go on.” “He got the idea into his head to rip off the money from a shipment I didn’t know about it until he called me from Acapulco He figured he’d put the head man in a position where he’d have to deal personally I told him to stay put, that we were scrubbing him He’d have been taken back to the States and put somewhere safe until the job was over.” He tossed the match he’d been holding into an ashtray on Moralas’s desk “He didn’t listen He came back to Cozumel and tried to deal with Manchez himself It was over before I knew Even if I’d have known, I can’t be sure I could’ve stopped it We don’t like to lose civilians, Mr Sharpe I don’t like to lose friends.” The anger drained from him degree by degree It would have been so like Jerry, Jonas thought An adventure, the excitement, the impulsiveness “Go on.” “Orders came down to put the pressure on Liz.” Scott gave a half laugh that had nothing to with humor “Orders from both sides It wasn’t until after your trip to Acapulco that we were sure you weren’t involved in the smuggling You stopped being a suspect and became the decoy.” “I came to the police.” She looked at Moralas “I came to you You didn’t tell me.” “I wasn’t aware of Agent Scott’s identity until yesterday I knew only that we had a man on the inside and that it was necessary to use you.” “You were protected,” Scott put in “There wasn’t a day you weren’t guarded by Moralas’s men and by mine Your being here complicated things,” he said to Jonas “You were pushing too close to the bone I guess you and Jerry had more in common than looks.” Jonas felt the weight on the chain around his neck “Maybe we did.” “Well, we’d come to the point where we had to settle for Manchez and a few others or go for broke We went for broke.” “The drop we made It was a setup.” “Manchez had orders to whatever he had to to get back the money Jerry had taken They didn’t know about the safe-deposit box.” He blew out a stream of smoke “I had to play it pretty fast and loose to keep that under wraps But then we didn’t know about it either, until you led us to it As far as Ambuckle was concerned, you had the money, and he was going to get it back He wanted it to look as though you’d been running the smuggling operation together When you were found dead, the heat would be off of him He planned to lie low a while, then pick up business elsewhere I had that from Manchez You were set up,” he agreed “So was he I got to Merriworth, made enough noise about how Manchez was about to double-cross to set him off When Manchez was snorkeling to your boat, I was on the phone with the man I knew as Clancy I got a promotion, and Clancy came back to deal with you himself.” Liz tried to see it as he did, as a chess game, as any game with pawns She couldn’t “You knew who he was yesterday morning and you still had me get on that boat.” “There were a dozen sharpshooters in position I had a gun, Ambuckle didn’t We wanted him to order Liz’s murder, and we wanted him to tell her as much as possible When this goes to court, we want it tidy We want him put away for a long time You’re a lawyer, Sharpe You know how these things can go We can make a clean collar, have a stack of evidence and lose I’ve watched too many of these bastards walk.” He blew out smoke between set teeth “This one’s not walking anywhere but into federal prison.” “There is still the question of whether these men will be tried in your country or mine.” Moralas spoke softly, and didn’t move when Scott whirled on him “Look, Moralas—” “This will be discussed later You have my thanks and my apologies,” he said to Jonas and Liz “I regret we saw no other way.” “So I,” Liz murmured, then turned to Scott “Was it worth it?” “Ambuckle brought thousands of pounds of cocaine into the States He’s responsible for more than fifteen murders in the U.S and Mexico Yeah, it was worth it.” She nodded “I hope you understand that I never want to see you again.” After closing her hand around Jonas’s she managed a smile “You were a lousy student.” “Sorry we never had that drink.” He looked back at Jonas “Sorry about a lot of things.” “I appreciate what you told me about my brother It makes a difference.” “I’m recommending him for a citation They’ll send it to your parents.” “It’ll mean a great deal to them.” He offered his hand and meant it “You were doing your job—I understand that We all what we have to do.” “That doesn’t mean I don’t regret it.” Jonas nodded Something inside him was free, completely free “As to putting Liz through hell for the past few weeks…” Very calmly, Jonas curled his hand into a fist and planted it solidly on Scott’s jaw The thin man snapped a chair in half as he crashed into it on his way to the floor “Jonas!” Stunned, Liz could no more than stare Then, incredibly, she felt the urge to giggle With one hand over her mouth, she leaned into Jonas and let the laughter come Moralas remained contentedly at his desk, sipping coffee Scott rubbed his jaw gingerly “We all what we have to do,” he murmured Jonas only turned his back “Goodbye, Captain.” Moralas stayed where he was “Goodbye, Mr Sharpe.” He rose and, in a rare show of feeling, took Liz’s hand and kissed it “Vaya dios.” He waited until the door had shut behind them before he looked down at Scott again “Your government will, of course, pay for the chair.” He was gone She’d sent him away After nearly two weeks, Liz awoke every morning with the same thoughts Jonas was gone It was for the best After nearly two weeks she awoke every morning struggling to convince herself If she’d followed her heart, she would have said yes the moment he’d asked her to marry him She would have left everything she’d built behind and gone with him And ruined his life, perhaps her own He was already back in his own world, poring through law books, facing juries, going to elegant dinner parties By now, she was sure his time in Cozumel was becoming vague After all, he hadn’t written He hadn’t called He’d left the day after Ambuckle had been taken into custody without another word about love He’d conquered his ghosts when he’d faced Manchez and had walked away whole He was gone, and she was once more standing on her own As she was meant to, Liz thought She’d have no regrets That she’d promised herself What she’d given to Jonas had been given without conditions or expectations What he’d given to her she’d never lose The sun was high and bright, she thought The air was as mellow as quiet music Her lover was gone, but she, too, was whole A month of memories could be stretched to last a lifetime And Faith was coming home Liz pulled her bike into a parking space and listened to the thunder of a plane taking off Even now Faith and her parents were crossing the Gulf Liz left her bike and walked toward the terminal It was ridiculous to feel nervous, she told herself, but she couldn’t prevent it It was ridiculous to arrive at the airport nearly an hour early, but she’d have gone mad at home She skirted around a bed of marigolds and geraniums She’d buy flowers, she decided Her mother loved flowers Inside the terminal, the air was cool and full of noise Tourists came and went but rarely passed the shops without a last-minute purchase Liz started in the first store and worked her way down, buying consistently and strictly on impulse By the time she arrived at the gate, she carried two shopping bags and an armful of dyed carnations Any minute, she thought She’d be here any minute Liz shifted both bags to one hand and nervously brushed at her hair Passengers waited for their flights by napping in the black plastic chairs or reading guidebooks She watched a woman check her lipstick in a compact mirror and wondered if she had time to run into the ladies room to examine her own face Gnawing on her lip, she decided she couldn’t leave, even for a moment Neither could she sit, so she paced back and forth in front of the wide windows and watched the planes come and go It was late Planes were always late when you were waiting for them The sky was clear and blue She knew it was equally clear in Houston because she’d been checking the weather for days But the plane was late Impatient, she walked back to security to ask about the status She should have known better Liz got a shrug and the Mexican equivalent of It’ll be here when it comes In another ten minutes, she was ready to scream Then she saw it She didn’t have to hear the flight announcement to know With her heart thudding dully, she waited by the door Faith wore blue striped pants and a white blouse Her hair’s grown, Liz thought as she watched her daughter come down the steps She’s grown—though she knew it would never to tell Faith so She’d just wrinkle her nose and roll her eyes Her palms were wet Don’t cry, don’t cry, Liz ordered herself But the tears were already welling Then Faith looked up and saw her With a grin and a wave she was racing forward Liz dropped her bags and reached out for her daughter “Mom, I got to sit by the window, but I couldn’t see our house.” As she babbled, Faith held her mother’s neck in a stranglehold “I brought you a present.” With her face buried against Faith’s throat, Liz drew in the scents—powder, soap and chocolate from the streak on the front of the white blouse “Let me look at you.” Drawing her back, Liz soaked up the sight of her She’s beautiful, Liz realized with a jolt Not just cute or sweet or pretty any longer Her daughter was beautiful I can’t let her go again It hit her like a wall I’ll never be able to let her go again “You’ve lost a tooth,” Liz managed as she brushed back her daughter’s hair “Two.” Faith grinned to show the twin spaces “Grandma said I could put them under my pillow, but I brought them with me so I can put them under my real pillow Will I get pesos?” “Yes.” Liz kissed one cheek, then the other “Welcome home.” With her hand firmly in Faith’s, Liz rose to greet her parents For a moment she just looked at them, trying to see them as a stranger would Her father was tall and still slim, though his hairline was creeping back He was grinning at her the way he had whenever she’d done something particularly pleasing to him Her mother stood beside him, lovely in her tidy way She looked now, as she’d always looked to Liz, like a woman who’d never had to handle a crisis more stressful than a burned roast Yet she’d been as solid and as sturdy as a rock There were tears in her eyes Liz wondered abruptly if the beginning of the summer left her mother as empty as the end of the summer left her “Momma.” Liz reached out and was surrounded “Oh, I’ve missed you I’ve missed you all so much.” I want to go home The thought surged up inside her and nearly poured out She needed to go home “Mom.” Faith tugged on the pocket of her jeans “Mom.” Giddy, Liz turned and scooped her up “Yes.” She covered her face with kisses until Faith giggled “Yes, yes, yes!” Faith snuggled in “You have to say hello to Jonas.” “What?” “He came with us You have to say hi.” “I don’t—” Then she saw him, leaning against the window, watching—waiting patiently The blood rushed out of her head to her heart until she was certain something would burst Holding onto Faith, Liz stood where she was Jonas walked to her, took her face in both hands and kissed her hard “Nice to see you,” he murmured, then bent down to pick up the bags Liz had dropped “I imagine these are for you,” he said as he handed Liz’s mother the flowers “Yes.” Liz tried to gather the thoughts stumbling through her mind “I forgot.” “They’re lovely.” She sent her daughter a smile “Jonas is going to drive us to the hotel I invited him to dinner tonight I hope you don’t mind You always make enough.” “No, I… Of course.” “We’ll see you then.” She gave Liz another brief kiss “I know you want to get Faith home and have some time together We’ll see you tonight.” “But I—” “Our bags are here We’re going to deal with customs.” Before Liz could say another word, she was alone with her daughter “Can we stop by and see Señor Pessado?” “Yes,” Liz said absently “Can I have some candy?” Liz glanced down to the chocolate stain on Faith’s blouse “You’ve already had some.” Faith just smiled She knew she could depend on Señor Pessado “Let’s go home now.” Liz waited until Faith was unpacked, until the crystal bird Faith had bought her was hanging in the window and her daughter had consumed two tacos and a pint of milk “Faith…” She wanted her voice to be casual “When did you meet Mr Sharpe?” “Jonas? He came to Grandma’s house.” Faith turned the doll Liz had brought her this way and that for inspection “To Grandma’s? When?” “I don’t know.” She decided to call the doll Cassandra because it was pretty and had long hair “Can I have my ice cream now?” “Oh—yes.” Liz walked over to get it out of the freezer “Faith, you know why he went to Grandma’s?” “He wanted to talk to her, I guess To Grandpa, too He stayed for dinner I knew Grandma liked him because she made cherry pies I liked him, too He can play the piano really good.” Faith eyed the ice cream and was satisfied when her mother added another scoop “He took me to the zoo.” “What?” The bowl nearly slipped out of Liz’s hand as she set it down “Jonas took you to the zoo?” “Last Saturday We fed popcorn to the monkeys, but mostly we ate it.” She giggled as she shoveled in ice cream “He tells funny stories I scraped my knee.” Remembering suddenly, Faith pulled up her slacks to show off her wound “Oh, baby.” It was small and already scabbed over, but Liz brushed a kiss over it anyway “How’d you this?” “At the zoo I was running I can run really fast in my new sneakers, but I fell down I didn’t cry.” Liz rolled the slacks down “I’m sure you didn’t.” “Jonas didn’t get mad or anything He cleaned it all up with his handkerchief It was pretty messy I bled a lot.” She smiled at that, pleased with herself “He said I have pretty eyes just like you.” A little thrill of panic raced through her, but she couldn’t stop herself “Did he? What else did he say?” “Oh, we talked about Mexico and about Houston He wondered which I liked best.” Liz rested her hands on her daughter’s knees This is what matters, she realized This was all that really mattered “What did you tell him?” “I like it best where you are.” She scraped the bottom of the bowl “He said he liked it best there, too Is he going to be your boyfriend?” “My—” Liz managed, just barely, to suppress the laugh “No.” “Charlene’s mother has a boyfriend, but he isn’t as tall as Jonas and I don’t think he ever took Charlene to the zoo Jonas said sometime maybe we could go see the Liberty Bell Do you think we can?” Liz picked up the ice cream dish and began to wash it “We’ll see,” she muttered “Listen, someone’s coming.” Faith was up like a shot and dashing for the front door “It’s Jonas!” With a whoop, she was out of the door and running full steam “Faith!” Liz hurried from the kitchen and reached the porch in time to see Faith hurl herself at Jonas With a laugh, he caught her, tossed her in the air then set her down again in a move so natural that it seemed he’d been doing so all his life Liz knotted the dishcloth in her hands “You came early.” Pleased, Faith on to his hand “We were talking about you.” “Were you?” He tousled Faith’s hair but looked up at Liz “That’s funny, because I was thinking about you.” “We’re going to make paella because that’s what Grandpa likes best You can help.” “Faith—” “Love to,” Jonas interrupted “After I talk to your mother.” At the foot of the stairs he crouched down to Faith’s level “I’d really like to talk to your mom alone.” Faith’s mouth screwed up “Why?” “I have to convince her to marry me.” He ignored Liz’s gasp and watched for Faith’s reaction Her eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed “She said you weren’t her boyfriend I asked.” He grinned and leaned closer “I just have to talk her into it.” “Grandma says nobody can ever talk my mom into anything She has a hard head.” “So I, and I make a living talking people into things But maybe you could put in a few good words for me later.” As Faith considered, her eyes brightened “Okay Mom, can I see if Roberto’s home? You said he had new puppies.” Liz stretched out the cloth then balled it again “Go ahead, but just for a little while.” Jonas straightened as he watched Faith race toward the house across the street “You’ve done an excellent job with your daughter, Elizabeth.” “She’s done a great deal of it herself.” He turned and saw the nerves on her face It didn’t displease him But he remembered the way she’d looked when she had opened her arms to Faith at the airport He wanted, he would, see her look that way again “Do you want to talk inside?” he began as he walked up the steps “Or right here?” “Jonas, I don’t know why you’ve come back, but—” “Of course you know why I’ve come back You’re not stupid.” “We don’t have anything to talk about.” “Fine.” He closed the distance quickly She didn’t resist, though she told herself she would When he dragged her against him, she went without hesitation Her mouth locked hungrily to his, and for a moment, just for a moment, the world was right again “If you don’t want to talk, we’ll go inside and make love until you see things a little more clearly.” “I see things clearly.” Liz put her hands on his arms and started to draw away “I love you.” He felt the shudder, saw the flash of joy in her eyes before she looked away “Jonas, this isn’t possible.” “Wrong It’s entirely possible—in fact, it’s already done The point is, Liz, you need me.” Her eyes narrowed to slits “What I need I take care of.” “That’s why I love you,” he said simply and took the wind out of her sails “Jonas—” “Are you going to tell me you haven’t missed me?” She opened her mouth, then shut it again “Okay, so you take the Fifth on that one.” He stepped back from her “Are you going to deny that you’ve spent some sleepless nights in the past couple of weeks, that you’ve thought about what happened between us? Are you going to stand here and look at me now and tell me you’re not in love with me?” She’d never been able to lie well Liz turned and meticulously spread the dishcloth over the porch rail “Jonas, I can’t run my life on my feelings.” “From now on you can Did you like the present Faith brought you?” “What?” Confused, she turned back “Yes, of course I did.” “Good I brought you one too.” He took a box out of his pocket Liz saw the flash of diamond and nearly had her hand behind her back before he caught it in his Firmly, he slipped the ring on “It’s official.” She wouldn’t even look at it She couldn’t stop herself The diamond was shaped in a teardrop and as white and glossy as a wish “You’re being ridiculous,” she told him, but couldn’t make herself take it off “You’re going to marry me.” He took her shoulders and leaned her back against a post “That’s not negotiable After that, we have several options I can give up my practice and live in Cozumel You can support me.” She let out a quick breath that might have been a laugh “Now you’re really being ridiculous.” “You don’t like that one Good, I didn’t care for it either You can come back to Philadelphia with me I’ll support you.” Her chin went up “I don’t need to be supported.” “Excellent We agree on the first two options.” He ran his hands through her hair and discovered he wasn’t feeling as patient as he’d thought he would “Now, you can come back to the States We’ll take a map and you can close your eyes and pick a spot That’s where we’ll live.” “We can’t run our lives this way.” She pushed him aside to walk down the length of the porch and back But part of her was beginning to believe they could “Don’t you see how impossible it is?” she demanded as much of herself as of him “You have your career I have my business I’d never be a proper wife for someone like you.” “You’re the only wife for someone like me.” He grabbed her shoulders again No, he wasn’t feeling patient at all “Damn it, Liz, you’re the only one If the business is important to you, keep it Have Luis run it We can come back a half a dozen times a year if you want Start another business We’ll go to Florida, to California, anywhere you want where they need a good dive shop Or…” He waited until he was sure he had her full attention “You could go back to school.” He saw it in her eyes—the surprise, the dream, then the denial “That’s over.” “The hell it is Look at you—it’s what you want Keep the shop, build another, build ten others, but give yourself something for yourself.” “It’s been more than ten years.” He lifted a brow “You said once you wouldn’t change anything.” “And I meant it, but to go back now, after all this time.” “Afraid?” Her eyes narrowed; her spine stiffened “Yes.” He laughed, delighted with her “Woman, in the past few weeks, you’ve been through hell and out again And you’re afraid of a few college courses?” With a sigh, she turned away “I might not be able to make it.” “So what?” He whirled her back again “So you fall flat on your face I’ll be right there falling down with you It’s time for risking, Liz For both of us.” “Oh, I want to believe you.” She lifted a hand to rest it on his face “I want to I love you, Jonas So much.” She was locked against him again, lost in him “I need you, Liz I’m not going back without you.” She clung to him a moment, almost ready to believe “But it’s not just me You have to understand I can’t whatever I’d like.” “Faith?” He drew her back again “I’ve spent the past weeks getting to know her My main objective when I started was to ingratiate myself I figured the only way to get to you was through her.” So she’d already surmised “Afternoons at the zoo?” “That’s right Thing was, I didn’t know she was as easy to fall for as her mother I want her.” The hand Liz had lifted to her hair froze “I don’t understand.” “I want her to be mine—legally, emotionally I want you to agree to let me adopt her.” “Adopt…” Whatever she might have expected from him, it hadn’t been this “But she’s—” “Yours?” he interrupted “No, she’s going to be ours You’re going to have to share her And if you’re set on her going to school in Houston, we’ll live in Houston Within the year I expect she should have a brother or sister because she needs family as much as we do.” He was offering her everything, everything she’d ever wanted and had refused to believe in She had only to hold out her hand The idea terrified her “She’s another man’s child How will you be able to forget that?” “She’s your child,” he reminded her “You told me yourself she was your child only Now she’s going to be mine.” Taking her hands, he kissed them “So are you.” “Jonas, you know what you’re doing? You’re asking for a wife who’ll have to start from scratch and a half-grown daughter You’re complicating your life.” “Yeah, and maybe I’m saving it.” And hers Her blood was pumping again, her skin was tingling For the first time in years she could look at her life and see no shadows She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before she turned “Be sure,” she whispered “Be absolutely sure If I let myself go, if I say yes and you change your mind, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.” He took her by the shirtfront “In one week, we’re going to my parents’ farm in Lancaster, calling the local minister, justice of the peace or witch doctor and we’re getting married Adoption papers are being drawn up When we settle in as a family, we’re all having the same name You and Faith and I.” With a sigh, Liz leaned back again against the post and studied his face It was beautiful, she decided Strong, passionate, patient Her life was going to be bound up with that face It was as real as flesh and blood and as precious as dreams Her lover was back, her child was with her and nothing was impossible “When I first met you, I thought you were the kind of man who always got what he wanted.” “And you were right.” He took her hands again and held them “Now what are we going to tell Faith?” he demanded Her lips curved slowly “I guess we’d better tell her you talked me into it.” Don’t miss these other favorite series by Nora Roberts available now wherever ebooks are sold! Stars of Mithra Hidden Star Captive Star Secret Star The MacKade Brothers The Return of Rafe MacKade The Pride of Jared MacKade The Heart of Devin MacKade The Fall of Shane MacKade The Stanislaskis Taming Natasha Luring a Lady Falling for Rachel Convincing Alex Waiting for Nick Considering Kate Also Available The Art of Deception Lessons Learned Mind Over Matter One Summer Risky Business Second Nature Summer Desserts Treasures Lost, Treasures Found Unfinished Business A Will and a Way ISBN: 978-1-4592-7387-0 Risky Business Copyright © 1986 by Nora Roberts All rights reserved Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries www.Harlequin.com .. .Risky Business Nora Roberts Cozumel had been home to Liz Palmer for ten years She was settled, respected Her... since pushed that early dream from her mind, telling herself she was more suited to the business world Her business world She glanced over where the clouds floated lazily over the horizon The sun... It wasn’t my business as long as he paid for the room and showed up to work.” When she looked back, her face was set “I’m sorry for your brother, I’m sorry for you But it’s not my business. ” He